Time switch operating mechanism



Aug. 15, 1933. B. P. RUCKER TIME SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1933 INVENTOR,

BY m a,

TTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 1 1 NITE STATES O CE e g TIME SWITCH a ma MEcHAnisn/r l I Benjamin Parks Rucker, Upper Montclair, J.. I Application March 27, 1933. Serial No. 66 ,944 7' 3 Claims. (01. 200 -39 The object of the present invention is to provide a time switch operating mechanism which is adapted to be used in connection with a clock and an electric switch, bothof standard construction, which shall be neat and attractive inappearance, reliable, made up largely of standard parts and which maybe manufactured at a low cost.

.The invention has to do only with the construction of the mechanism which connects the standard clock with the standard switch; Consequently, the details of construction'of the clock and switch have been omitted and the illustration directed to the operating mechanism.

' Among the features or advantages provided or made possible by the use of my invention may be mentioned the removable mounting for the clock whichpositions the same'in'operative position. to. effect the actuation of .the operating mechanism when desired while, at the same'time, permitting the clock to'be'removed and used in the usual manner, as a time piece only. In a like manner, no special switch is required, as the mechanismis designed and adapted to be used in connection with any of the standard tumbler switches usually installed in existing circuits and. furthermore, when the mechanism is mounted in connection therewith, the switch may be'operated by hand in the usual manner; without disturbing or dis-connecting anylmechanism therefrom. The advantages of this will be apparent, especially in cases where it is desired onlytouse the automatic mechanism at certain times, as at night to turn off lights in show windows, etc.

provide a frame upon which the clock is removably mounted, as a separate unit, a rotatable clutch member positioned to' operatively engage an intermittently controlled rotating part of the clock when in position upon the frame, such as the alarm winding thumb-piece-common'to all such clocks which'is'turned in one direction to wind the alarm mechanism of the clock and when the alarm is released, at the predetermined time set, rotates in the opposite direction. A pinion is rotated by this clutch member, which, in turn operates a rack at the'end of a rod which extends to a point adjacent the switch and carries a latch gravity to their original positions when the clock.

is removed from the frame, for rewinding, etc.

By simply reversing the switch mounted upon In carrying outthe objects of the invention, I

the thumb piece of the alarm winding mechawhich-engages an operating lever which extends I ment. A guide 16 is provided for the lowerporthe face plate, the automatic mechanism may be used either to open or close the circuitata predetermined time." v

In the drawing in which an operative embodimentof my invention'is shown, as illustrative of the same, like parts in the .several views hav been given the same'reference numeral.

3, which maybe made of pressed sheet steel, is

provided with inturned lips 4 and 5farranged to receive the. outer edges of the base of ,theclock, permitting the same to be slid into or-out of posi tion upon the frame .3. i i

A switch of the tumbler type standard construction, is indicated at '6 andis provided with the .usual, operating lever "7,- which; projectsthrough the face plate of the switch. The electrical connections and switch mechanismare not. shown, as these are of the usual and well known construction. g f p I v An enclosing box, which may also beof pressed steel, is shown at 8, enclosing the switch 6 and lower part of the mechanism for automatically operating the same. This box' 8 may be attached to the clock frame 3, thus: forming one unit for mounting'upon the wall, etc;, as desired;'

The clutch member which'operates the mechanism from the clock-is shown at 9, also in detail at Fig. 3., 'It will be seen tha t'thi's clutchmjember is in the form. of a Ushaped device with the extending arms, 9' and 9", tapered atftheir outer ends. This member is mounted upon the frame 3 in such position that when. the clock is slid into position the arms 9' and 9 will embrace nism, 2, and when the alarm wind thumb piece rotates, upon the release of the alarm mechanism at the predetermined-time, this clutchmember with the pinion 10,being held-thereagainstby the pin13; and as the-pinion 10 is rotated the rack is moved upwardly. The rack 12 may be formed by flattening one end of the rod 15 and the upper end thereof bent over, as shown at 14, to form a stop to limit the downward movetion of the rod 15, which also acts as a stop to limit the upward movement of the same. A latch 1'7 is pivotally mounted at 18 atthe lower end of the rod 15, normally standinginithe position shownin' full lines in Fig. 2 bythe action of gravity.- v

When the rod 15 is moved upwardly, as heretofore described, the latch 17 engages the inner end of a lever. 19, which is pivotally fulcrumed at 20 in';a'su'pport 21 attached-,to the inner side .of the faceplate of theswitch 6. "The opposite end of the lever 19 extends through a slot in this face plate and carries a pin 22 projecting over the switch lever '7 and as theinner endof the lever 19 is engaged by the ,latch .17 it is moved,

to the mounting ofthe switch mechanism on the faceplate, as will be understood by reference to the, drawing. q

Asthe inner end of the operating lever 19 is swung-"about its pivot 20 toits upper-position, in-

i dicated by the dotted outline in Fig. 2, it is disen'gagedfrom the latch 17, which has then moved to the position, indicated in dotted outline, against the stop 16. -As the inner portion of the operating lever 19 is heavier than the outer portion, it falls by gravity from its upper to ,its lower or normal position, shown in full lines in- Fig. '2,"as

soon as disengaged from the latch 17, thus leaving the switch lever '7 free for manual operation, 'independently from the automatic timemec'ha- 'n'ismyif 'desiredi i The-bevel provided at the ends of the arms 9 and-9' of the clutch member 9 are to permit the clock to be slid into place regardless of the relative positions ofthe clutch 9 and the alarm wind 2, avoidingthe necessity of turning one or the other in event they happen to stand in the same plane. Y

' As the clock is removed for'rewinding or setting, the clutch member 9 is released and the rack 12,,rod 15 and latch 17 fall by gravity into their normal positions, shown in full-"line s in Fig. 2, and-the mechanism is in position for operation.

' It will thus, beseenithat an automatic oper ation ofan electric circuit may be had without the necessity of alteringthe'existing circuit. or switch mechanisimotherthan to cut aslotlin the faceplate of the switch, utilizing'any standard clocklfor effecting the time controllandoperation thereof.

I e What I claim as new and-desire to securehy .Letters'Patent is:-=- r l. :Atimeswitch operatingimechanismadapted fornse in connection with a clock and-- an eiectric switch -'of standardiconstruction, consisting of ;-a frame upon which the clock is removably mount ed 'as a. separate unit, a rotatable, clutch member mounted'uponsaid frame in position to operative,-

mounting attached to the face plate-of said switch and positionedwith its inner end adapted to be engaged by said latch and its outer end extending through. a slot in said switch face "plate and adapted to engage the operating lever of. said switch. V

2. A time'switch operating mechanism adapted to, be usediin connection with a clock and an electric switch of standard construction, consisting of-aframe upon which the clock is removably :mounted as a separate unit, a rotatable clutch member mounted upon said frame in position to operativelyr engage an intermittently controlled rotating part of said clock when'in position upon said frame, a pinionv attached to and rotatable with said, clutch-member, a rack operatively en-1- gaged with said pinion and forming part of a rod extending downwardly adjacent said switch, a latch pivotally mounted upon the lower endof said rod, and an operating lever fulcrumedinca' mounting attached to the face plate ofsaid switch andpositioned with its inner-end adapted to be engaged by said latch and move said switch lever from its upper to its lower position, thereby auto-.

matically' effecting the operationtof openingnorclosingsaid switch mechanism; 3 r, '3'. A time switch operating mechanism adapted 'to be used in connection with a clock and an electric switch of standard construction, consisting of :aframe upon which the clock is removably mounted as a separate unit, a rotatable clutch member mounted upon said frame in position to ope'ratively engage an intermittently controlled rotating part of said clock when in position upon said'frame a pinion attached to and rotatable with said clutch member, a rack operatively engaged with said pinion and forming part of a rod extendingjdownwardly adjacent said switch, ta latch pivotally mounted upon the lower end of said rod, and :anoperating lever fulcrumed in a ting the lever to fall by grayityzto "its lower or original position, the outer end of said lever being simultaneously moved downwardly and engaging and moving the switch .lever from its upper to its lower position, thereby automatically effecting the. operation-of= opening or closing the switch .mechanism .and,up,on release of the said operating lever-by :saidlatchpermitting the manual operation thereof; BENJAMIN PARKS RUCKER. 

